Electrical sparking igniter for explosive-engines.



. PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 7. 1903.

2 SHEETS-BE N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD JUNE 14, 1904.

' A. JpBRADLEY. ELECTRICAL SPARKING IGNII'BR FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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-of adjustable guide-block.

UNITED STATES Patented June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. BRADLEY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,574, dated June 14, 1904.

Application filed April 7. 1903. Serial No. 151,530. (No model.)

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my enginewith ignition-chamber and governor-valve chamber in section. Fig. 2 1s a rear end view of same. Fig. 3 is a transverse longltudinal section through cylinder and ignition-diam Fig. 4 1s a longitudinal section of rock.

ber. ing electrode and stem. Fig. 5 is a side view Fig. 6 is a plan view of same.

I have shown my invention herein embodied in a horizontal engine, in which- A represents a cylinder supported on 'a suitable base, as 2. The piston'is connected by a rod with the balanced crank-shaft 4, which carries a Worm-gear 5, meshing a corresponding gear on the horizontal shaft 6, running parallel with the engine and having a proper speed relative to that of the engine. Shaft 6 is suitably journaled on the base and carries a cam 7, operating the exhaust-valve 7 a through suitable connections, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of shaft 6 has an eccentric 8, to which is pivoted a finger 9, forming part of the igniting mechanism and causing the explosion at the proper interval. The explosive mixture, which may be gas, gasolene, distillate, coal-oil, or gasified crude petroleum, is admitted through pipe 10 into chamber 11, which is disposed on the side and near the head of the cylinder. In its passage through pipe 10 it is mixed with a suitable quantity of air induced on suction through opening 12, and the quantity of explosive mixture admitted to the cylinder is controlled by a governor. The ignition-chamber, it is to be observed, does not open straight'into the cylinder, but, as

shown in Fig. 3, the passage-way 14 through the cylinder-wall extends diagonally from the front end of the chamber backward into the cylinder immediately adjacent to the head, and the electrodes 15 16 are disposed at the end of the chamber opposite to the port-opening. The consequence is that when explosion takes place by the separation of the electrodes the flash passes in more or less circuitous passage into the cylinder, and since the electrodes are out of line with port 14 they are protected more or less and are not subject to fouling. With the diagonally-disposed port the sound of explosion is scarcely perceptible, while with a straight port at right angles through the cylinder-wall the report of each explosion was so loud as to render ordinary conversation a matter of difficulty when close to the engine. A puppet-valvel'? seats in the inletport to chamber 11. The interior of chamber 11 is accessible on removing a cap-plate 18, which is tapped to receive the plugs 19, one of which carries the stationary electrode 15. Electrode 1 6 is fixed to a rockingstem 20, extending out through a bushing 21 in the end of chamber 11. The stem 20 is formed with a shoulder portion 22, which bears against a corresponding part on the inner end of the bushing or sleeve 21, so that when explosion takes place the shoulder seats valve fashion firm against the sleeve to prevent the escape of any gas. The portion 22 is transversely perforated to receive the electrode-pin 16, which latter is locked firmly in place by means of a rod 22 having a threaded engagement with the outer end only of the stem 20 and means, as the head 22, for turning it. By having all threaded portions exterior to the ignitionchamber no opportunity is offered for corrosion to occur to prevent the removal of the firing-pin at any time it may be necessary or desired to do so. Electrode 16 is retained normally out of contact with electrode 15 by means of the action of a spring 23, surrounding stem 20, exterior to the chamber and having one end fixed to the stem, as at 24, and the other to a spring pressed hammer arm 25, turnable loosely about the stem and disposed in the path of finger 9. The stem has a projecting anvil-arm clamped to and turnable with it and adapted to support arm 25 against the tension of spring 23.

In operation at each revolution of shaft 6 finger 9 is lifted to engage the end of arm 25, causing stem to rock and bring electrodes 16 15 into contact. The are of movement, however, of arm is greater than that of part 26, which is fixed rigid to stem 20, so that when the stem is turned just so far as to bring the electrodes into contact it can turn no farther; but finger 9 pushes up still on arm 25 till the latter is lifted a little above rest 26. When the finger lets go, the arm by reason of the tension of spring 23'flies back and the impact on rest 26 separates the electrodes, causing the spark which ignites the gas in the cylinder. The movement of electrode 16 away from electrode 15 is limited by a stop 27, interposed in the path of anvil-arm 26. Finger 9 is supported and slidable in a block 28, which is slidable on guides 29, supported on the engine. Block 28 is adjustable outwardly on guides 29 by a set-screw 30, so as to cause the finger to disengage arm 25 at different periods relative to the revolution of shaft 6 and explode the gas in the cylinder when the piston is at a point where explosion will result in the greatest power. The block is normally held loose against the end of screw 30 by springs 31.

The means herein employed to effect the sparking and to advance or retard the spark, as it is termed, is an essential feature to the success of the engine and of this invention. By a simple adjustment of screw 30 to move block 28 in or out and cause finger 9 to engage and leave arm 25 earlier or later in the revolution of the eccentric 8 the spark in the cylinder may be made to occur more or less before the piston has reached the end of its compressive-stroke, or just when it reaches the end of that stroke, or after it has begun its outward stroke. should occur prematurely and reverse the engine in starting up springs 31 allow the guideblock to give to let finger 9 ride beneath the end of arm 25 without causing any damage, as would result if the block were rigid with its adjusting means.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An igniter for explosive-engines comprising fixed and rocking electrodes, a springpressed hammer-arm carried by the rocking electrode and having a limited oscillating movement in relation thereto, a rigid anvilarm carried by said rocking electrode and disposed in the path of movement of said hammer-arm, and an oscillating part for operating said hammer arm slidable in adjustable resiliently-supported guides disposed in the path of Said arm.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ARTHUR J. BRADLEY.

Witnesses:

WV. KADY, W. S. ANGWIN.

In case an explosion 

